Smoking pipe



Feb. 23,

Filed 001;.

R. L SMITH SMOKING PIPE i 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l8)b let; 44b 20b Y 4 INVENTOR 346 zen lab 6 Robert 1.. 3mm

BY *W ATTORNEYS R. L. SMITH SMOKING PIPE Feb. 23, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 17, 1963 INVENTOR Robert L. Smith United States Patent 3,170,468 SMOKING PWE Robert L. Smith, Burgaw, N.C., assignor to Fiito Pipes, Inc, Burgaw, N.C., a company of NorthCarolina Filed Oct. 17, 1963, SeruNo. 316,923

Claims. (Cl. 131-413) This invention relates to smoking pipes and similar devices. The present invention more particularly relates to improvements over my application Serial No. 659,352, filed April 3, 1946, now Patent No. 2,628,622, issued February 17, 1953, and application Serial No. 69,297, filed January 5, 1949, now Patent No. 2,654,370, issued October 6, 1953, and this application is a continuationin-part application of my application Serial No. 79,211, filed December 29, 1960, now abandoned.

The prior art dealing with retroverted filtering systems for smoking pipes and the like have been found unsatisfactory because of problems in cleaning, assembly, and filtering. Filter pipes, primarily fail due to clogging of the filter material or the filter system generally. If too-many of the materials are taken out of othe smoke, the smoker is deprived of the fine flavor,

aroma and taste of the tobacco. If not enough materials are taken out of the smoke, the pipe tends to clog readily, bite, and otherwise produce an uncomfortable or strong smoke.

It is an object of this invention to provide a pipe or similar smoking device which is readily assembled and disassembled.

Yet a further object of thi invention is to provide a pipe or smoking device in which the filter itself is easily assembled and disassembled.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a pipe which maintains a cool and even smoke.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pipe which draws easily at all times and is not prone to clogging.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a pipe which can be constructed of lightweight materials and yet which will have means for preventing deformation of the stem.

A further object of this invention is to provide a smoking pipe which is easily cleaned.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a smoking device in which the filter material used i tobacco thereby afiording the smoker with a ready source of filtering material.

Another object of this invention is to provide a filtering device for pipes and the like which includes a throw away absorbent filter medium and which is not available can be replaced by a non-destructible unit which is provided at the time of sale.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide means for removing the filtering medium'with the minimum of.

diificulty in order to eliminate soiling of the hands duringreplacement of the filtering medium. 3

A further object of thi invention is to provide a smoking device in which the support for the filtering medium permits free draw and reduces clogging.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pipe which is extremely efiicient in the condensation of volatile fluids.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description and claims. 7 p

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate by way of example various embodiments of this invention:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective showing the preferred form of this invention.

, FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal cross-section of the pipe,-

of FIGURE 1 assembled. V

FIGURE 3 is an end view of the sleeve and basket assembly.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the lines- 4-4- of FIGURE 2 and viewed in the directionof the' FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a modified form.

of the filter cap.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a modification of this invention.

FIGURE 8 is a perspective of the sleeve receptacle for the basket of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a perspective of the bitfor the modification shown in FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 10 is an end view of the bowl assembly of FIGURE 7 showing the spring ring. iv

FIGURES 11 and 12 are fragmentary side views taken at right angles to each other and showing the inner end of the bit of the preferred form.

In FIGURE 1, the pipe comprises three primary units; namely, a bit 10, a stem 100, and a bowl or tobacco receptacle 2%. v

As noted best in FIGURE 2, the bit 10 has a central opening 12 extending therethrough. The inner end of the bit 10 is recessed as at 14. Opening or bore 12 ex-.

tends into the recess 14. Recess 14 has an annular Wall 16 for receiving a snug fitting sleeve 18. The sleeve may be constructed of metal or other durable materials such as plastic or the like.

The bit 10 is provided with an annular recessed or cut away area 21). The area 20 ends at a shoulder 22 I The stem 10% fits about the bit 10 and rests in the recess area 20. Theend of the stem abuts the shoulder Within the area of the annular recess 20, is a second recess 24 which is annular in configuration and which supports an O ring 26. The O ring 26 is of resilient rubber material or the like and projects slightly from the recess 24 in order to afford a frictional engagement between the bit lil and the stem 1% when it is fitted on the bit 10.

Projecting from the area about the recess 16 are projections 28. The projections 28 are formed with a shoulder 3% as best seenin FIGURES 11 and 12.

The projections 28 define slotted portions having shoulders or edges 32 as illustrated in FIGURES 11 and 12. It isto be noted that the shoulders or edges 32 lie in a single plane below the shoulders 30 of the projections 28 for reasons hereinafter described.

Within the cylindrical sleeve 18, a basket member and ejector 34 is supported. The basket member 34 is provided with legs 36 having bent outward portions 38. The basket 34 is formed from a single piece of material and is provided with a central opening 40 in the bottom member 42. The bottom member 42 is substantially circular in configuration and the legs 36 are bent upwardly therefrom to give the bottom 40 a slightly rounded configuration at the interface 44 Where the legs 36 are integrally connected with the bottom '42. The purposes for the rounded areas will be hereinafter described. It is to be further noted, that the legs 36 project upwardly and the distance between the struck out portions 38 of the legs 36 is substantially greater than the width of the bottom 42. The basket 34 is adapted to be received within the sleeve 18. .The leg members 36 are generally flat, resilient and narrow in order to Patented Feb. 23, 1965 accurately position the basket member within the sleeve 7 V 18 and maintain the bottom 42 spaced from the inside walls of the sleeve 18. The portions 38 may be used to remove the filter from the sleeve 18, or a pencil or asimilar rod-like member may be used to eject the same when the .sleeve is removed from the bit 10.

A cap member 46 having a rounded top 48 snaps over the projections 28 and bottoms on the shoulders 30. The cap memberr46 is formed by spinning a metal sleeve to form the closed end 48. The metal of the cap is thicker at the top portion than at the open end as noted particularly in FIGURES 2 and 4. A recessed area 50 adjacent the open end of the cap member permits for flexibility of the'cap when applied to the projecting portions 28.

The cap 46 is also beveled or chamfered at its open end as at 52 so as to permit ease in assembly when the .cap is snapped on over the projections 28. The beveling V of the cap at the thinned portion 50, a spring clamp action is maintained on the projections 28.

It is to.be noted that the projections 28 may be constructed by forming the bit with an annular extending portion which has a shoulder 30 and cutting back on the annular member of the projecting portion. It will be obvious that at least one recessed area will be required in order to obtain the desired snap action. tween the projections 28 is too narrow, the cap {16 will be difiicultly applied; In order therefore that the cap be applied easily and at the same time a good friction lock be obtained, the projections are constructed so as oppose each other and the width of the projections 28 is sub-' stantially the same as the width of the slots between the projections 23.

.Since the edges 32 as seen in FIGURES 11 and 12 are below the shoulders 30 on which the cap 46 seats, the smoke-is allowed to pass beyond the; open end of the cap 46 and upwardly along the sleeve 18 and thence downwardly inside the sleeve 18 when the device is in its assembled position and as seen by the arrows in FIG- URE 2, for example.

The stem 100 which is secured to the bit is of sheetlike material and is cylindrical in configuration. The stem 100 comprises a sleeve 102 having a closed spun end 104. The sleeve 102 may be of aluminum or any suitable metal or plastic material or the like. An insert sleeve 106 is placed within the cylinder 102 and is slightly fits like a saddle over the stem 100. A fitting 204 passes. through an opening 206 and is threadably received in the.

opening 108 through-the sleeves 102 and106. The fitting 204 has an opening therein 208 extending therethrough.

A key slot 210 is provided for tightening the fitting on the stem to secure the bowl tothe stem. 7

FIGURE 6 shows a cap 46a which may be used in place of the metal cap 46. Cap 46 is made from a fibrous ma- If the slot beterial such as cardboard, fiberglass, or other porous material. The cap 46a is provided with a sidewall member 47a having a flange 48a for maintaining a cap 49ain position. The cap 46a operates in the same manner as thei metal cap 46; i.e. it serves as a cooling surface for the condensing of smoke thereon. The added advantage over the metal cap 46 is that the cap 16a being of fibrous material, absorbs the moisture and tars from'th'e smoke. A

further advantage is that the paper cap 4611 may be thrown away and replaced by a new cap when it has collected a sufiicient amount of tar and the like material.

. The cap 46a flexes in the same manner as the metal cap 46 as illustrated in FIGURE 5.

It is to be pointed out that the" spun ends 48 and 104 of the cap 46 and the sleeve 102 respectively aid in the maintenance of the pipe andassist in the cleaning thereof. Rectangularend portions are much more diificult to keep clean. p o

In the modification shown in FIGURE 7, the stem 10b is constructed in much the same-manner as the stem 10 but does not include the recess 24 and the recesses 32. The projecting portion 28b is annular without any cutaways as in FIGURE 12 of the stem 10. j

The stem portion 10% is fitted onto the bowl portion 2430b. Recesses 20b and 2021) in the bit and the pipe'bowl conform substantially to the inside diameter of the sleeve or stem 10012.

Since the bit 10b is not slotted as in the preferred modification, a special sleeve '18!) is provided with a relieved annular portion 1% as best shown in FIGURE 8. The relieved annular portion 19b is slotted in order to provide a spring fit when the sleeve 10b is inserted within the recessed area 16b of the stem 10b. V

The cap 46b corresponding with the. cap 46 of the preferred form, is provided with a series of slotted areas about the open end thereof of equal depth and width. The effect of the slotting is to provide a series of spring fingers whichgrasp about theprojected portion 23b and maintain the cap 46!) in position. I

A spring washer member 60 set in the recess 16b serves to maintain the basket 3 1b in position in the sleeve 10b. It is to be noted,'that if the washer 60 were removed, the basket 34b would drop further into the recessed area 1612 making it difiicult to remove.

The pipe bowl portion 20% is provided with an arcuate recess 220 in which is positioned a spring clip member 222. It is to be noted that the central portionof the recessed area 224 of the recess 220 is approximately the same width as the clip 222. Thelower extreme ends'of the arcuate recess 220 as at 226 may be'cut inwardly and deeper than the portion 224 of the recess 220. As shown in FIGURE 10' the remainder of the recess 222 is of uniform depth. The spring clip 222 is maintained in position by engaging over a portion of the walls of the recess 220.

The portion in which'the spring clip 222 engages is more than an arc of 180. This permits the clip to snap over the shoulders of the recess. The normal position of the clip 222 iswith the ends projecting slightly out of the slot or recess 220 as at 228. It is to befurther noted'as in FIGURE 7 that the recess slopes from top to bottom with the top portion 'beingcloser' t0 the bit end and the bottom portion being fartherremoved. The purpose of this arrangement is to provide a firm locking action for the sleeve 10011 when it is applied to the bowl 2300b.

When the sleeve 1001) is applied over the clip 222, the

end portions 228 arepressed inwardly into the deeper.

recessed areas 226. The cant of the slot allows for ease in applying the sleeve. The cant 0f the slot also prevents ease in removal of the sleeve :from the pipe .bowl' 200]]. The spring action of the clip222tends to force the ends 228 outwardly and causes themto bite into the side walls of the tight fitting sleeve of the stem 1001;.

i I Operation i V In operation, the basket 34 or 34b is packed or filled with tobacco. while resting within the sleeve 18 or 131).

Some otherfilter medium such as cotton etccan be.

utilized.

' The cap 46 or 46:! or 455 is. then applied and the stem 100 or 1100b is then secured to the bit 10 or 1011. 7

The smoke then travels through. th opening 208 or 2101) around the cap 46 or lda or 46b and between the inside wall of the cap and the outside of the sleeve 18 or 18b and thence inside the sleeve and through the filter material held bythe basket 34 or 3412 as the case may be. It is noted that the curved areas 44 and 44b of the basket permit the smoke to travel around and between the edge of the bottom 42 and 42b and the side walls of the sleeve 18 and 18b. This prevents clogging of the tars between adjacent surfaces and permits free draw at all times.

Because-of the retroverted flow of the smoke, as noted by the arrows in the various drawings, a condensing area for the tars and the like is provided at least twice the usual length of filter area. This assures a greater filter action and a greater cooling surface for the smoke due to the additional length of travel.

While the invention has been described, it will be understood that it is capable of further modifications and this application is intended to cover any varations, uses, or adaptations of the invention following in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains, and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth and as fall within the scope of the invention or the limits of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

l. A smoking device comprising:

(a) a bit member having a smoke duct therethrough,

(b) a tobacco product receptacle,

(0) a stem having a shell casing connecting said bit member with said receptacle,

(01) means for supporting a retroverted-flow filter housed substantially within said stern and in said smoke duct comprising a projecting portion at one end of said member, said projecting portion having an inner and outer surface disposed about said smoke duct and forming a shoulder thereon-facing said tobacco product receptacle,

(e) a cap member having a Wall forming a closed end portion and an open end portion, the wall at said open end portion being resilient and deformable, said cap member being adapted to engage the outer surface of said projecting portion in coaxial relation with and spaced from said shell casing,

(1) an open-ended sleeve coaxially disposed within said cap member and having its wall spaced therefrom and having one end projecting into said smoke duct and engaging said inner surface of said projecting portion, bearing radially outward against said projecting portion whereby when said cap. member is placed over said projecting portion, said projecting portion is reinforced by said sleeve against radially inward movement by said cap member, and the circumference of the inner diameter of said open-end wall portion of said cap member is less than the diameter of the outer surface of said projecting portion so that said cap member is deformed and surrounds said projecting portion thereby affording a spring gripping action on said projecting portion, and

(g) a filter support basket and ejector mounted in one of the ends of said sleeve comprising a bottom portion having a pair of relatively narrow opposed legs extending beyond one end of said sleeve,

(h) one of said members having a slot therein at one end thereof adjacent the place Where said members are joined thereby providing an opening between said open ended sleeveand the bit member portion adjacent said slot'to permit smoke to pass through the opening, around said sleeve, through said sleeve andinto said smoke duct in said bit membr.

2. A smoking device defined in claim 1 wherein said bottom portion of said filter support basket is of a diameter substantially less than the diameter of said sleeve.

3. A smoking device as defined in claim 1 wherein said slot is located in the projecting portion of said bit member.

4. A smoking device as in claim 1, and wherein said open end portion of said cap includes means providing a plurality of projecting resilient, flexible, circumferentially, spaced, equi-length legs.

5. A smoking device as in claim 1, and wherein said receptacle includes a pipe bowl, said'shell casing being open at one end and formed from thin sheet material and having said other end closed and rounded, said shell casing having a reinforcing insert sleeve adjacent said closed rounded end, said insert sleeve being slightly expanded to grip said inside shell casing wall, said shell casing and said insert sleeve having congruous and coinciding openings therein, said pipe bowl having an opening in the bottom thereof, and a hollow fastener extending through said pipe bowl, shell casing, and insert sleeve openings, said pipe bowl having an arcuate recess formed at the bottom thereof and extending longitudinally across said pipe bowl opening for connecting said pipe bowl securely to said shell casing.

6. A smoking device as in claim 1, and wherein said receptacle includes a pipe bowl having an elongated portion connected to said stern, said elongated portion having a recess having an arcuate slot sloped from top to bottom With said top portion being closer to said bit member and said bottom portion being farther removed formed therein, said slot being deeper at its ends than its midportion, and a deformable spring clip in said slot having its ends normally under compression when said shell casing is connected to said pipe bowl, whereby when said pipe bowl is inserted into said shell casing, the ends of said spring clip are compressed into the deeper ends of said slot to permit ease in assembly.

7. A smoking device as in claim 1, and wherein said cap comprises a metal sleeve having one end rounded and closed and the other end having a beveled inside edge and a band portion, said band portion being of thinner material than the remainder portion of said sleeve to provide greater elasticity thereat. 1

8. A smoking device as in claim 1, said cap being of fiber-stock material and including a bottom piece connected to a sleeve having an end shoulder for receiving and holding said bottom piece.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 682,470 9/01 Kennefick 131195 1,189,690 7/16 Heller 131212 1,893,137 1/33 Friedman 31212 1,956,404 4/34 Sziiagyi 13l212 2,159,698 5/39 Hanis et al. 2,230,872 2/41 Turinsky 131-212 2,529,278 11/50 Bowers 131212 X 2,654,370 10/53 Smith.

2,753,873 7/56 Kirsten 131-225 X 2,965,106 12/60 Chernock 131225 3,106,922 10/63 Hefti 1-31-225 X FOREIGN PATENTS 255,213 7/26 Great Britain.

ABRAHAM G. STONE, Primary Examiner. JOSEPH s. REICH, Examiner. 

1. A SMOKING DEVICE COMPRISING: (A) A BIT MEMBER HAVING A SMOKE DUCT THERETHROUGH, (B) A TOBACCO PRODUCT RECEPTACLE, (C) A STEM HAVING A SHELL CASING CONNECTING SAID BIT MEMBER WITH SAID RECEPTACLE, (D) MEANS FOR SUPPORTING A RETROVERTED-FLOW FILTER HOUSED SUBSTANTIALLY WITHIN SAID STEM AND IN SAID SMOKE DUCT COMPRISING A PROJECTING PORTION AT ONE END OF SAID MEMBER, SAID PROJECTING PORTION HAVING AND INNER AND OUTER SURFACE DISPOSED ABOUT SAID SMOKE DUCT AND FORMING A SHOULDER THEREON FACING SAID TOBACCO PRODUCT RECEPTACLE, (E) A CAP MEMBER HAVING A WALL FORMING A CLOSED END PORTION AND AN OPEN END PORTION, THE WALL AT SAID OPEN END PORTION BEING RESILIENT AND DEFORMABLE, SAID CAP MEMBER BEING ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID PROJECTING PORTION IN COAXIAL RELATION WITH SAID SPACED FROM SAID SHELL CASING, (F) AN OPEN-ENDED SLEEVE COAXIALLY DISPOSED WITHIN SAID CAP MEMBER AND HAVING ITS WALL SPACED THEREFROM AND HAVING ONE END PROJECTING INTO SAID SMOKE DUCT AND ENGAGING SAID INNER SURFACE OF SAID PROJECTING PORTION, BEARING RADIALLY OUTWARD AGAINST SAID PROJECTING PORTION WHEREBY WHEN SAID CAP MEMBER IS PLACED OVER SAID PROJECTING PORTION, SAID PROJECTING PORTION IS REINFORCED BY SAID SLEEVE AGAINST RADIALLY INWARD MOVEMENT BY SAID CAP MEMBER, AND IN CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE INNER DIAMETER OF SAID OPEN-END WALL PORTION OF SAID CAP MEMBER IS LESS THAN THE DIAMETER OF THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID PROJECTING PORTION SO THAT SAID CAP MEMBER IS DEFORMED AND SURROUND SAID PROJECTING PORTION THEREBY AFFORDING A SPRING GRIPPING ACTION ON SAID PROJECTING PORTION, AND (G) A FILTER SUPPORT BASKET AND EJECTOR MOUNTED IN ONE OF THE ENDS OF SAID SLEEVE COMPRISING A BOTTOM PORTION HAVING A PAIR OF RELATIVELY NARROW OPPOSED LEGS EXTENDING BEYOND ONE END OF S AID SLEEVE, (H) ONE OF SAID MEMBERS HAVING A SLOT THEREIN AT ONE END THEREOF ADJACENT THE PLACE WHERE SAID MEMBERS ARE JOINED THEREBY PROVIDING AN OPENING BETWEEN SAID OPEN ENDED SLEEVE AND THE BIT MEMBER PORTION ADJACENT SAID SLOT TO PERMIT SMOKE TO PASS THROUGH THE OPENING, AROUND SAID SLEEVE, THROUGH SAID SLEEVE AND INTO SAID SMOKE DUCT IN SAID BIT MEMBER. 